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With the recent FDA warnings on statins, the debate over their safety has heated up. Some say they are risky, others say their safe. So who do we listen to?

The best information will always be from an unbiased source. The definition of unbiased being no commercial interest in the product being sold.

When there is a commercial interest, Its perfectly natural to exaggerate the benefits and downplay the pitfalls. It doesn't matter what product or service is being sold, its just human nature.

So how can we know if someone has a commercial interest?

With a used car salesman its obvious. But other scenarios are not always obvious to the consumer.

What about the media? Statin manufacturers have been TV media's best clients paying millions $$ for prime time TV ads. So yes there is a financial relationship between the networks and the drug companies. But we forget or just don't think about it.

What about the FDA? The person on the FDA could be a stockholder in the company that sells the product.

What about a Doctor? The Doctor could have a financial relationship with statin manufacturers, but even if he doesn't directly have a relationship with drug companies, he still has a commercial interest as statins are an integral part of the services he is offering- lowering cholesterol.

A welder will be partial to his torch. After all it is his living. Say anything negative about his torch and yes he will defend it.

So the best source for accurate data is from someone with excellent knowledge of the product, but has no commercial interest whatsoever. This is where all of us will find the truth.

The best information will always be from an unbiased source. The definition of unbiased being no commercial interest in the product being sold.

When there is a commercial interest, Its perfectly natural to exaggerate the benefits and downplay the pitfalls. It doesn't matter what product or service is being sold, its just human nature.

So how can we know if someone has a commercial interest?

With a used car salesman its obvious. But other scenarios are not always obvious to the consumer.

What about the media? Statin manufacturers have been TV media's best clients paying millions $$ for prime time TV ads. So yes there is a financial relationship between the networks and the drug companies. But we forget or just don't think about it.

What about the FDA? The person on the FDA could be a stockholder in the company that sells the product.

What about a Doctor? The Doctor could have a financial relationship with statin manufacturers, but even if he doesn't directly have a relationship with drug companies, he still has a commercial interest as statins are an integral part of the services he is offering- lowering cholesterol.

A welder will be partial to his torch. After all it is his living. Say anything negative about his torch and yes he will defend it.

So the best source for accurate data is from someone with excellent knowledge of the product, but has no commercial interest whatsoever. This is where all of us will find the truth.

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